Docker Compose vs PM2 in 2026
Docker Compose, PM2 and DevWebUI compared on what each does, what each costs, how each is installed and what to check before you choose.
SayDeploy is published by LunarWerx, which makes some of the tools compared here.
Docker Compose defines and runs multi-container applications [1], while PM2 manages applications and keeps them online 24/7 [2]. DevWebUI starts, stops and restarts local dev servers from one dashboard [3].
| Option | Free to use | Paid plan | Account | Install |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Docker Compose | Docker Personal includes 100 Docker Hub pulls per hour and 1 private Docker Hub repo. [4] | Docker Pro, for individual professionals [4]; Docker Team, for small teams [4]; Docker Business, with invoice purchase [4]; Compose price: not published | not published | not published |
| PM2 | PM2 Runtime remains free as it is open source. [5] | PM2 Plus has no free plan [5], and yearly payment gives a 20% discount [5]; check PM2's pricing page for the price | The PM2 AI Assistant is secured by OAuth with a PM2.io account. [2] | npm install pm2 -g [2] |
| DevWebUI | Free, core features need no account. [3] | Free. [3] | Not needed for core features. [3] | Windows: devwebui-windows-x64.exe from GitHub Releases; any OS: bun install then bun run dev. [3] |
The short answer
Docker Compose is a tool for defining and running multi-container applications. [1] PM2 is a daemon process manager that helps manage applications and keep them online 24/7. [2] DevWebUI lets a developer start, stop and restart local dev servers from one dashboard, while showing each server's status, CPU, memory and logs. [3]
Docker Compose says it meets needs around managing services, networks and volumes in one YAML configuration file. [1] PM2's sources describe keeping an application online and web based monitoring. [2] [2] DevWebUI's claims cover controlling local dev servers, listing servers from a repo file, and allowing AI assistants to control dev servers through 43 tools. [3] [3] [3]
What Docker Compose and PM2 are built for
Docker Compose's own page says it is a tool for defining and running multi-container applications. [1] It lets developers manage services, networks and volumes in a single YAML configuration file. [1]
PM2's own page says it is a daemon process manager that helps manage applications and keep them online 24/7. [2] PM2 can be installed globally with npm. [2] Its monitoring dashboard is web based and can be started with pm2 monitor. [2]
What DevWebUI is built for
DevWebUI is made by the team that publishes this site.
DevWebUI lets you start, stop and restart your local dev servers from one dashboard, and see each one's status, CPU, memory and logs. [3] One small file per repo lists the servers to run, and DevWebUI writes processes changed in the GUI back to that file. [3]
When a port is already taken, it shows which process holds it and can free the port if you ask. [3] You can open any managed server through DevWebUI's own address on your machine, with HTTP and WebSocket traffic passed through. [3] Errors are collected into one log that merges repeats and is kept across restarts, and each file:line link opens in your editor. [3]
DevWebUI can start a repository's Docker Compose containers first, wait until their ports are ready, and set up the database connection details. [3] You can set threshold alert rules and see a history of alerts that fired. [3] AI assistants can control your dev servers through 43 tools using the same background service as the dashboard. [3]
Pricing and fees
PM2 Runtime remains free because it is open source, and PM2 Plus does not offer a free plan. [5] Paying yearly gives a 20% discount on a PM2 Plus subscription. [5] Check PM2's pricing page for the PM2 Plus price.
Docker's pricing page lists Docker Personal, Docker Pro, Docker Team and Docker Business. [4] [4] [4] [4] The sources provided here do not state a standalone Docker Compose price, so that price is not published here.
DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account. [3] It is open source under the MIT License. [3]
Setting it up and daily use
Docker Compose lets developers manage services, networks and volumes from a single YAML configuration file. [1]
PM2 can be installed globally with npm using npm install pm2 -g. [2] For monitoring, PM2's page says the web based dashboard starts with pm2 monitor. [2]
On Windows, DevWebUI is installed by downloading devwebui-windows-x64.exe from GitHub Releases, and on any operating system you run bun install and then bun run dev. [3] There is a prebuilt Windows x64 app, other systems run it from source with Bun, and the tray app is Windows only for now. [3] Daily use includes controlling servers from the dashboard or from a devwebui command-line tool. [3] [3] If the last shutdown was not clean, the next launch loads your projects but starts nothing automatically. [3]
Things to check before you choose
Ask what you need the tool to manage. Docker Compose describes defining and running multi-container applications. [1] PM2 describes keeping an application online 24/7. [2] DevWebUI describes controlling local dev servers from one dashboard. [3]
Check your operating system and account requirements. DevWebUI has a Windows x64 app and other systems run it from source with Bun. [3]
Check how each tool handles data and access. DevWebUI sends an anonymous install ping with update checks unless you set DEVWEBUI_NO_PING=1. [3] Check the Docker Compose and PM2 pages for their data handling, since the facts here do not cover it.
How to choose
If the need is to define and run multi-container applications, Docker Compose's page describes that use. [1]
If the need is to keep an application online 24/7, PM2's page says that is its purpose. [2] If the need is web based monitoring started with a command, PM2 describes pm2 monitor. [2]
If the need is to start, stop and restart local dev servers from one dashboard with status, CPU, memory and logs, DevWebUI's claims describe that. [3] If the need is a repo file that lists servers to run, DevWebUI's claims describe that. [3] If the need is AI assistant control of dev servers, DevWebUI's claims describe 43 tools for that. [3] If the need is a free tool with no account for core features, DevWebUI's claims say that. [3]
Frequently asked questions
Is Docker Compose used for running multiple containers?
Docker Compose is a tool for defining and running multi-container applications. [1] It lets developers manage services, networks and volumes in a single YAML configuration file. [1]
Is PM2 free to use?
PM2 Runtime remains free because it is open source. [5] PM2 Plus does not offer any free plan. [5] Paying yearly gives a 20% discount on a PM2 Plus subscription. [5] Check PM2's pricing page for the PM2 Plus price.
How do you install Docker Compose, PM2 and DevWebUI?
Docker Compose uses a YAML configuration file to manage services, networks and volumes. [1] PM2 can be installed globally with npm using npm install pm2 -g. [2] DevWebUI can be installed on Windows with devwebui-windows-x64.exe from GitHub Releases or on any operating system with bun install and bun run dev. [3]
Can PM2 and DevWebUI work with AI assistants?
DevWebUI lets AI assistants control dev servers through 43 tools. [3]
Is DevWebUI free for developers?
DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account. [3] It is open source under the MIT License. [3] Check the project's own pages for anything beyond that.
DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account. [3]
Try DevWebUISources
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